The Accessibility Implications of a Pilot COVID-19 Vaccination Program in Hamilton, Ontario

Abstract

The Government of Ontario in Canada announced the pilot for a new vaccination program, with designated pharmacies across the province now able to offer COVID-19 vaccines. The accessibility of this program raises questions about travel times to vaccination sites and the distribution of these times among the population. In our examination of the City of Hamilton we find that selected sites do not serve rural and urban residents well; particularly, the associated cost of travel (in terms of travel time) is expected to be disproportionally borne by lower income urban populations and rural residents. Modest additions to the list of pilot sites in the city can substantially alleviate this inequity.